The Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (Mada) welcomes the magistrate’s court decision, in Hebron yesterday (April 24), which acquitted Aqsa TV correspondent A’laa Titi and his assistant Osaid Amarneh of the charges against them, and considers the decision a victory for media freedom and the rule of low.

The Palestinian Preventive Security Service had arrested Titi and Amarneh in November 6, 2007, and released them after twenty days, but lodged complain against them to Magistrate’s Court in Hebron city, on charges of undermining the national unity and dignity of the state, by broadcasting false and exaggerated news, which issued the acquittal decision yesterday, because of the absence of prosecution witnesses during the court four sessions, which discussed the issue.

Mada demands Salam Fayyad Government, to cancel the panning of Aqsa TV work in the West Bank, and to release Journalist Musa’ab Qatalouni, who was arrested since the fifth of last March, also demands Ismail Haniya dismissed government to allow Palestine Public Television to work in the Gaza Strip, Mada demands the two governments to allow all other media to work and distribute freely in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as was the situation before 14 of last June.

Mada appeals to the international community to act quickly to lift the unjust siege on the Gaza Strip, before the happening of shocking humanitarian catastrophe, the siege leaves a very bad effect on all sectors of the Palestinian people, on journalists and on the work of media.outlets.
April 25,2008
Ramallah